Key holder



Nov. 2%, 1923 1,475,133

c. A. MURRAY KEY HOLDER Filed April 19, 1923 lafiml Ema-m Q E... 5

wuemioz Qmmm Q- @Mmy/ Qbtovn aid 0 Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHAUNCEY ANIAS MURRAY, 01 SUPERIOR, WYOMING.

KEY HOLDER.

Application filed April 19, 1928. Serial No. 638,205.

. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same. This invention relates to animproved device for holding keys and the like.

The object of the invention is to gener ally improve upon devices ofthis class by providing one of extreme simplicity and durability whichis such in construction that the a plication and removal of a key isatly acilitated.

t lier objects and advantages of the intion will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specification an inwhic like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame Figure 1 is a front elevation of a key holder constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an edge elevation of the same.

Fi 3 is a lon 'tudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of ig. -1.

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken on the lines 4'4 and 55respectively, of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the holder showing the guard opento permit application or removal of a key.

ig. 7 is a perspectlve v1ew of the holder showing a slight modification1n construction.

Briefly, the improved holder comprises an elongated link which has itsends separated, and preferably spaced, to provide an opening to permitpassage of the head of a key to facilitate its engagement with theholder. Associated with the latter and cooperative with the opening is aguard which normally closes the opening to prevent displacement of' akey, the guard being preferably composed of parts hinged to one stretchof t e link and having their free edges connected together by readilyseparable fastening means.

Specificall described, the invention comprises an. e ongated link formedfrom a single strand of wire. As seen the ends 1 of the link areseparated and spaced to form an opening, to permit application andremoval of a key in an obvious manner. By preference, the intermediateor central portion of the link is contracted to reduce it in width and aguard 2 is associated with this contracted portion and serves to dividethe links into upper and lower rings 3 and 4, respectively. An attachingchain or its equivalent 5 is adapted to be connected with the upperring, while the remaining ring serves to receive the keys 6. Inmanufacturing the link, wire of comparatively small diameter will beemployed to permit it to be readily passed throu h the opening in thehead of the keys and t e ends of the wire link will be separated asufficient distance to render the application and removal of the keyscomparatively easy. Hence, a key can indeed be rapidly engaged ordisengaged with or from the holder.

Although the aforesaid guard could be of some other construction, itpreferably comprises a pair of plates 7 and 8, which have one edge bentto provide knuckles 9 for rotatable engagement with one stretch of thelink. Hence, the plates are hingedly connected with the holder and theyare adapted to extend cross wise of the constricted portion thereof and.the opposite edges are adapted to be detachably connected together. Inthe showing the free edge of the plate 8 is curved to assume an arcuateshape as indicated at 10 and this bent edge is adapted to conform to theadjacent stretch of the link. The bent portion 10 of the plate isprovided with a notch 11 with which a spring locking tongue 12 co-actsfor maintaining the edges of the two plates together. As the plates arearranged on opposite sides of the links, when they are brought together,it is obvious that they cover the opening between the separated ends ofthe link and thus prevent displacement of the keys. It is to be pointedout that the tongue 11 is sufiiciently resilient to snap over the curvedportion 9 and by placing the finger against it and exerting pressurethereon, the ends of the two plates can be readily separatedto permitremoval or application of a key.

Although it is not essential, I wish to point out that, if desired, aname card or the like 13 may be secured to the inner face of one of theplates as an identification means. If the card is not desired, the namecan be simply engraved on the inner face of one plate.

In Fig. 7, .a slightly difierent embodiment of the invention isdisclosed. Reference being had to this figure it will be seen that thechange in construction simpl "consists in a reversal of the knuckles 9with which the plates 7 and 8 are equipped. In the form of the inventionpreviously described, the plate 7 is equipped with two spaced knuckles,whereas plate 8 is provided with asingle knuckle arranged between theknuckles on the plate 7. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7,the knuckles are simply reversed, that is, the plate which correspondsto the aforesaid plate 7 is simply provlded with a single knuckleinterposed be tween two knuckles on the other plate. 7

Since probably the best results may be obtained with the constructionand arrangement herein shown and described, thisis taken as the referredembodiment of the invention. owever, I wish it to be understood thatminor changes coming within the scope of the invention as claimed may beresorted to if desired.

amuse I claim 1. A key holder comprising a link havin its ends separatedto permit ap lication o a key, and a guard coacting wit said ends toprevent displacement of a key, said guard comprising a pair of spacedplates hinged to one stretch of the link.

2. The structure set forth in olaim 1, with separable fastening meansfor the free edges of the plates.

3. A key holder comprising an elongated iink having its ends separatedto permit application and removal of a key, and a guard cooperative withthespaced ends of the link to prevent displacement of the key, thisguard comprising a pair of spaced plates, said plates being provided ontheir adjacent vertical edges with knuckles journaled on one stretch ofthe link, the free vertical edge of one of said plates being bent toassume a substantially arcuate shape and being provided with a notch,and the corresponding edge of the other plate being equipped with acurved tongue receivable in said notch.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto afiizged my signature.

OHAUNCEY ANIAS MURRAY.

